deercountry | it was the silence underneath the stars

[It seems the game has its own sense of time! Scorpia's eyes widen as she hears the sound, and she nods quickly.]

Very, very good. Let's do that. Right away!

[She's still winded from their flight from the monkeys, but they have something potentially bigger and more terrifying to worry about now! With that, she scoops up her board and starts running in... the opposite direction that the rumbling seems to be coming from! But the floodwaters might not allow them much time to flee.]

[A speeder would be nice right now... Even a riding creature that could move faster than she. Scorpia at least has the foresight to pick up the game. There is a moment of which direction, before she follows suit.

Faster, faster, faster, she chides herself, trailing after the form of the other. The only positive is that any lingering monkeys might be in for a surprise too, assuming the water reaches all the way. She hopes it doesn't. It can't, can it? Then again, this place doesn't run by any rules that Padmé is familiar with.

Her mind says to just keep running, but she can't help but glance over her shoulder.]

Kriff!

[Of course they had to get something that was harder to avoid in such an open area! At least there's less reason to worry about any monkeying around. Scorpia runs for her life, but it's inevitable - the water will catch up with them. So she tries looking for the first tree she can find.]

That doesn't sound good! Running, I don't think it's working! If we can climb a tree or something or just hold onto it... M-maybe that's the best we can hope for!

[The first tree is a little questionable, but it will have to do, given the alternatives. It is not like she has any abilities that may aid. Even here, there is nothing but that which Padmé had been born with. It is come up with a solution, or be swept away.]

Climbing. Definitely climbing, at least to try to get out of the water's reach and what it may be dragging with it.

Yeah, exactly! You, you are saying a lot of facts right now! Let's.... get to it!

[Beggars can't be choosers! So Scorpia will throw herself at the tree and start climbing with the help of her pincers! But she'll also keep an eye on her companion to see if she needs help.]

[There are, at least, lower branches, which allows Padmé to swing up with a grunt, circling her legs around before hefting herself upright. Scorpia seems to be doing better than Padmé, yet she works. Hopefully fast enough... There is a rumble, but Padmé doesn't look back. Higher... They need to get a little higher, and hopefully that will be enough. Branches scratching along her skin, swatted by a stick, yet she kept going.

Hopefully it's high enough as Padmé pauses. There's a coolness to the breeze and the rumbling grows louder, and that- that's a lot of water.]

Brace!

Bracing!!

[Scorpia shouts as she digs the tips of her pincers into the bark of the tree! And she winces as it comes, the rushing of water! Fortunately, she managed to get just high enough to avoid being pulled into the water. But it's still not an ideal situation. The tree buckles with the force of the rushing waters and feels like it might not stay upright for long, on top of various objects being carried towards them by the floodwaters.]

Oh boy, hang in there!

[Padmé does work her belt free, looping it around the tree and circling it back to her hand. It's not much, but hopefully enough. There is a gasp as the tree rocks, pummeled by the onslaught, cracks and snaps around them, and a spray of water now and then brushing up against her heels. She can feel her heart in her throat, pounding, as she holds tight, praying that it's enough as well.]

[She grits her teeth as she keeps her grip! Her pincers are firmly rooted in the bark for a moment, even as pieces of it chip off from the force of the floodwaters. Rocks and other debris fly up from the waters, pelting her and forming a few cuts and bruises on her face while she holds her proverbial ground, grunting. And the tree bucks with the force of the waters as well. It's a matter of wondering what will end first... the flood, or the tree's stability.]

[There's a cracking, although Padmé doesn't know where it comes from. She's focused enough on holding on, braced against the trunk of the tree, all but holding her breath. Still it shakes, swaying back and forth against the barrage, and yet... She cracks an eye open. There's some marks along her clothing, the fabric torn. Lashes of blood, and probably a few bruises that will form, but she shifts a little. Nothing seems broken...]

Do you think... it's done?

[There's still water below, in the dips and crannies of the ground, a small stream along the ground, with all the debris.]

[Scorpia slowly looks down and sees something that doesn't look like certain doom. The worst seems to be over! So she breathes a sigh of relief.]

I think... It looks pretty 'done' to me. [She cautiously shimmies her way down the tree towards the ground. And then she stands there a moment, pincers propped on her sides as she looks around.]

Yep! I think, think we're good here. It's safe to come down!

[As she says that, a chunk of the tree falls off and to the ground, barely missing Scorpia.]

Yikes.

[She winces, but it seems that Scorpia isn't injured. Padmé slowly makes her way down, dropping the last few feet with a wet slosh. Straightening, she looks around, mindful of her footing, making her way closer to her.]

At least the monkeys should be gone for a while as well.

[Hopefully...]

[Scorpia looks around some more, still seeing no sign of danger. And she watches as Padmé completes her descent without incident. Stepping through some of the water, she closes more of the distance between them.]

Right! They're probably taking a really big bath right now! [She says with a soft laugh.] Are you oka-

[She's quickly cut off as one stray monkey leaps out from the water and lunges at them!]

[It's likely going to be a little soggy for a while, Padmé thinks. The area isn't exactly desert, which may absorb the water quicker. Mindful, she watches how she steps.]

That would be- [Nope. She has a monkey now on her shoulder, literally, as Padmé gives a yelp, trying to bat it off with her hands.]

Ahh!!

[She gives a startled shout as the primate pounces! But she's quick to action, jabbing with her tail to stun the monkey with her stinger.]

There! Now, now things should be okay! ...I hope!

[Her heart's still thumping, and Padmé takes a moment to suck in a breath or too before turning a grateful look towards Scorpia.]

Thank you.

[Which is earnest and sincere as she straightens once more, giving a quick glance around. There's a decent sized stick which she makes her way towards. It should be able to give a good thump and poke at things. She's not going to trust anything here.]

I suppose the monkey came from that direction... which means, should we try the other direction once more?

Happy to help.

[Scorpia assures her, wiping her arm across her bow now that the danger seems to have truly passed, with the monkey knocked out on the ground in some ridiculous position. And at her suggestion, Scorpia just nods along.]

You know, I can't argue with that plan of action. Sounds nice, solid, and full of the opposite of monkey attacks. Which is exactly what we need right now! So... yeah, let's do that!

[And so, the adventures continue...!]

[She may feel a little bad, but at the same time, the creature had been trying to attack her. She casts a wary glance to it, half expecting it to rise up and try again, but for now it seems stunned. Hopefully stunned for a while more.]

Last time there was plants... Huge plants, that tried to eat us. If the ground starts rumbling, we should definitely get out of the way.

[It's just taking a very nice nap while drying off in the sun, that's all! Scorpia's face looks more 'yikes' as her companion recalls her other ordeals.]

Hungry plants, now that does not sound pleasant at all! [And without anyone like Perfuma around to help out!] And - yeah, I do feel rumbling ground is a good sign to get moving, and quickly! Can't there be anything that can happen that can just... be pleasant for a change?

[She gives a soft chuckle at her expression.]

We climbed a tree to avoid them, although they were at the bottom and thankfully couldn't climb.

[Scorpia eases into a smile as she goes on.]

Oh, that's a relief! I guess sometimes one plant can help you get away from others. Y'know, I'm learning something today. Climbing trees can be a solution for a whole lot of problems!

Save monkey problems...

[Offering a soft grin. It would be nice though, if they could just sit up in a tree and play this silly game.]

Let's see if we can find a somewhat strategic place to keep playing this game.

Right! Right, monkeys are... they are pretty much the tree masters. [She pokes at her chin thoughtfully.]

'Strategic' isn't, it isn't always my strongest suit, but hey, I'll help you figure something out. It would really help if we had some kind of fort we could hole up in! Just, uh, not much fort-like going on in these parts.

If they understood what we were saying, I might have been able to reason with them.

[At least talk and negotiate, but talking with creatures is not something that Padmé does, or at least that they can understand her in turn.]

Hmm. Maybe a cave, or some place where we can see but also move quickly if we have to.

That would have been great! I do wish I could have made friends with them. They seem like they'd be lots of fun to be around when they're not... y'know, attacking.

[Scorpia nods along with her suggestions.]

Yeah, a cave would be great! Okay, let's keep moving and... keep our eyes open for any place that could do the trick!

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